GRAND BLANC -- Michigan State quarterbacks coach Brad Salem said
Monday that after going through spring practices, roles have yet to be defined as the competition for the
starting job between Andrew Maxwell and Connor Cook has been a close one.

"As you look at those two that have got playing experience
under their belt, the competition, pretty even," Salem told the MSU Genesee
County Alumni Club. "Andrew we've got to really have a little bit better spring
maybe than Connor you'd say."

Maxwell, a senior, is the incumbent starter who threw for
2,606 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions while Michigan State went
7-6. He was benched during the game-winning drive in the Buffalo Wild Wings
Bowl led by Cook, a sophomore now battling for the job.

"He had a very good spring," Salem said of Maxwell. "He's a
guy that has just come along every year, obviously gets thrown in the fire and
at times he knows he needs to be a lot better in certain situations. He's got
the game experience, but at the bowl game, Connor Cook got a chance to play and
did some very good things."

Brad SalemMlive Photo

Salem, who's in his first year as the Spartans' quarterbacks
coach after Dantonio shuffled his staff, wasn't ruling out redshirt freshman Tyler
O'Connor as an option after he threw two interceptions in the spring
game.

"Kind of has something about him," Salem said. "He just
makes plays, but he showed a little bit of kind of being a freshman, so you saw
a little bit of that in the spring.

"They all know the situation, and we've got to compete through
the summer and the fall and identify who is that guy, but reality, like I've
told them all, they all need to be ready to start because you don't know what
situation comes up."